Scaffold



Feb. 5 1924. 1

-' F. B. JOHNSTON SCAFFOLD Filed Jan, 11, 1922 2 sheets-sheet 1- 2 l F 2 1l L 3 Xl ff,

JV.' Johsian,

@Montag Feb. 5 1924. Y 1,482,898

F. B. JoHNsToN SCAFFOLD Filed Jam 11 1922 2 sheetssna'et. 2

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Patented F eb. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

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FRANK B. JOHNSTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR `IO AMERICAN SAFETY DEVICE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

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Application filed January 11, 1922.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK B. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States OfAmerica, and a resident .of the city of New York, in the county of Bronx, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scaffolds, whereof the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to scaffolds, and more particularly to those adapted to be secured against the outer side of a building during erection oi' reconstruction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a scaffold which is adjustable so that the platform may be raised to various elevations above the outriggers or other supports of the scaffold without readjusting or disturbing the positions of the outriggers or supports, so ast'o eliminate the useof the usual scaEold horses. The support of the platform at an elevation is had by the adj ustment of the various elements of the scaffold, and such adjustments include the change of position of parts which are firmly attached to the outriggers or support.

A further object of the invention refers to improved means for holding the inner ends ofA the outriggers while arranging for the vertical adjustment thereof to enable the outriggers to extend in substantially horizontal directions through windows of varying heights, and to enable the device to be securely anchored to' the building or some part thereof, such as the floor joists.

IVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a scaold constructed according .to the present invention and as applied to the wall of a building, the scaffold being adjusted to support the platform in its lowermost position.

Fig. 2 is an outer side elevation of the same, showing the cross pieces of the scaffold partially swung over into position for supporting the platform in an elevated position.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the scaold as applied to the wall of a building which has been built up to a greater height than shown'in Fig. 1and showing the scaffold serial no. 528,567.

AOutrigger near one of the upriglits.

n a n a Fig. 6 is a transverse section, enlarged,

through one of the outriggers as projecting through an opening in the wall, and showing a brace and anchor applied thereto for holding the Outrigger from lateral swaying and dropping. f

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates a wall in the course of construction, ywhich has been built to the height of a window or door opening 11, and which has imbedded therein the adjacent ends of joists or rafters 12 which subsequently form a floorsupport for the building. While the invention is de` scribed and illustrated in connection ,with a building in the course of construction, it is to be understood that the scaffold is equally applicable to buildings already erected, as the mounting, supporting and'bracing of the scaffold is the same at the different floors or elevations at which it is necessary to mount the sea'old.

The main support ofthe scaffold is in the form of a number of outriggers 13 which project horizontally through the wall openings 11 with one end of the outriggersl extending into the building, and supported or braced upon suitable benches, or anchors 14 each of which is connected by a threaded lbolt 15 or the ,like to the adjacent rafter 12.

The outer ends of the outriggers 13 project horizontally outward from the wall 10, and supportacross their upper edges a platform 16 which is made up of a plurality of planks lor the like, of suitable width, for support of the workmen and materials during the reconstruction or building of the wall and its adjacent parts.

As best shown in F igs. 4, 5 and 6, each Outrigger 13 is composed of a pair of side members which may be planks spaced apart at their inner ends by a spacing block 17, through which is secured a. bolt -18 or the like, for uniting the side members and ythe block, and which at their outerend portions are spaced apart by guide sleeves 19 0r the like, through which are slidably positioned inner-uprights 20 and outer uprights 21. These spacing sleeves 19 are bolted or otherwise suitably secured between the side pieces of the outrigger 13. The uprights 2O and 21 are each provided in one side, preferably the inner side thereof, with downwardly spaced rigid teeth 22 which may be formed in the face of a plate which is countersunk in the side of the adjacent upright and secured by screws, bolts or the like thereto. Near each guiding sleeve 19 is located a locking dog 23 which is pivotally supported upon a bracket 24C bolted or otherwise suitably secured between the side pieces of the Outrigger and which, as shown best in Fig. 5, may comprise a relatively kwide U-shaped frame, and a pair of spaced apart small U-shaped members which are Fitted in the U-shape frame and which have their outer side portions riveted or bolted thereagainst by the bolts or rivets which hold the bracket in place. The inner end portions of the small U-shape members form ears 25 betweenkwhich the dog 23 is fitted. The dog 23 normally falls by gravity into contact with the teeth 22 of the uprights, and is adapted to bind between the uprights and brackets to hold the uprights in elevated position.

As the inner upright 20I is adapted to be lowered entirely below the upper surface of the Outrigger 13 when the platform 16 is supported, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 1, the upright 20 is provided near its upper end with one or more notches or teeth 26 into which the adjacent dog 23 may engage for suspending the upright in its lowered position. The guide sleeves or casings 19 are apertured at their inner opposite sides to receive the ends of the dogs therethrough for interlocking engagement with the teeth 22 and 26.

The uprights 2O and 21 are provided near their upper and lower end portions with pairs of clamping bolts 27 which carry clampingplates 28, adapted toengage the opposite ends of braces 29 and 30. The braces 29, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 particularly, are crossed and secured at opposite ends beneath the clamping plates 28, to interbrace the adjacent uprights 21. The braces 29 are adapted to provide a protecting railing at the outer side of the platform 16, when the latter is adjusted into the position shown in F ig. 1. In this position of the platform, the braces 30 are also clamped against the outer u'prights 21 at the upper and lower portions thereof to provide a toe board and a hand rail. If desired braces 30 may also be secured to adjacent uprights 2O in a similar manner.

Each upright 21 is provided upon its upper end with a hinged cross bar 31, carrying a socket head 32 upon its outer end, the cross bar 31 being adapted to be swung over the upper ends of the uprights 21, and into position above the outriggers 13. This adjustment of the cross bar 31 is for the purpose ot supporting theplatt'orm 16 at an elevation above the outriggers, and the inner uprights 2O are raised through their outriggers to a suitable height to engage the sockets 32 for forming a support for the platform 16. This adjustment of the uprights is shown in Fig. 3, and wherein is shown the platform 16 in elevated position. lVhen the inner uprights 2() are thus elevated, the braces 30 may be removed from the outer uprights 21 and clamped in crossed relation between the adjacent inner uprights 2O to interbrace the same and provide a supporting structure for the platform, which is independent of the wall 10.

As shown in F 6, the outriggers are frequently located above the lower margin of the wall opening 11, and in order lto support the outriggers 13 at their outer ends, and to hold the same from swaying in the wall. opening, expansible braces 33 are employed. Each brace 33 is in the form of a turnbuckle provided with a footpiece 34 adapted to seat in the corner of the wall opening 11, and is provided at its opposite end with a bearing plate or yoke 35 of substantially U-shape, which is adapted to enibrace the outer side of the Outrigger 13, and extend about the upper and lower edge thereof. The plates 35 thus anchor the iiiner ends of the clamps during the tightening oi the same, and also during the use of the scaffold when erected. These clamps 35 are used in pairs, one at each side of each Outrigger, and the feet 34 of the clamps engage in the opposite lower corners of the wall opening 11, so as to brace the Outrigger 'from opposite sides, and not only support it against downward movement, but also to hold the outrigger from swaying horizontally.

The drawing shows in Fig. 1, the position of the scaffold when it is erected at the top of a wall under construction, and further shows the platform 16 resting directly across the outriggcrs 13. As soon as the work upon the wall 10 reaches a height which is inconvenient to the workmen, it is only necessary to remove the platform 16, and to adjust the vertically movable uprights 2O and 2l to the desired height, and swing the cross bar 3l across the upper ends of the upriglits to form a. new support for the platform 16. The planks which form the platform may then be placed across the cross bar 31 so as to form a platform at a higher elevation, and without the mounting or adjustment of the outriggers. lt is rapparent that as the work proceeds, the uprights 2O and 21 may be raised from time to time to elevate the platform until the uprights are raised to their limit. The upllO rights may be of a length which is suiicient to raise the platfo-rm so that the workmen may operate upon the wall until such height isreached that the outriggers may be secured through the windows or openings in the next story above.

I have herein shown and described a device embodying the structure of the invention in its preferred form, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a scaffold, outriggers, inner and outer uprights mounted for vertical adjustment upon the outriggers, a platform adapted -to be removably supported across the outriggers, and braces carried by the uprights adapted to be folded into positions above the outriggers for supporting said platform at various elevations above the outriggers.

2. In a scaffold, outriggers, inner and outer standards mounted for vertical adjustment upon the outriggers, braces for said standards arranged for adjustable and interchangeable positioning upon the uprights, said outer standards being adapted to be elevated and saidbraces being adapted to be secured to the elevated standards for interbracing the same, and cross braces adjustably mounted upon the outer ends of the outer standards and adapted to be swung into interlocking engagement with the inner standards for supporting the platform at an elevation above the outriggers.

3. In a scaEold, outriggers, vertically movable uprights carried by the outriggers, means for independently holding the uprights at various elevations upon the outriggers, braces removably and interchangeably carried upon the uprights, a platform adapted to be supported across the outriggers, said inner uprights being adapted to be lowered out of the way of the platform and said outer uprights being adapted to be raised and said braces adapted to be secured to the outer uprights to form a reinforced guard for the platform, and adjustable cross braces carried upon the upper ends of the outer uprights and arranged to be interlocked with the inner uprights when the latter are raised for supporting the platform at an elevation above the outriggers.

4; In a scaffold, outriggers, inner and outer uprights mounted for vertical adjustment upon the outriggers, cross braces hinged to the upper ends of the outer uprights and adapted to be swung inwardly into interlocking engagement with the inner uprights to provide a support above the outriggers, and a platform arranged to be interchangeably mounted across the outriggers and said cross braces.

5. In a building scaffold, the combination of outriggers, a platform removably supportedupon said outriggers, and means adjustably engaging said outriggers, and including a cross bar, adapted to support said platform at varied elevations above the plane of the outriggers.

6. In va building scaffold, the combination of outriggers, pairs of inner and outer uprights vertically adjustable upon said outriggers, one member of a pair of uprights having a greater vertical adjustment than the other member on the outriggers, a cross bar pivotally connected at one end with one upright of a pair and adapted to be supported at its other end on an opposite upright, and a platform supported by said cross bar.

7. In a building scaffold, the combination of outriggers, uprights arranged in pairs engaging said outriggers and provided on their lower ends with a serrated plate, means connected with said outriggers for engaging said plates, one member of a pair of uprights being adapted to be adjusted on said outriggers wi-th its upper end below the plane of the upper surface of said outriggers, a cross bar pivotally connected at one end with one member of a pair of uprights and adapt-ed to be supported at its other end upon the opposite member of said pair, and a platform supported upon said cross bar.

8. In a building scaffold, the combination of outriggers, pairs of oppositely disposed vertical uprights adjustable on said outriggers independently of each other, one member of a pair of uprights being adjustable for its full length on said outriggers, the opposite upright of said pair being provided with a hinged cross bar adapted to be swung lengthwise of said outriggers and engage theupper end of the opposite member of said pair, and a platform supported upon said cross bar.

9. In a building scaffold, the combination of outriggers, uprights disposed in pairs vertically adjustable on said outriggers independently of each other, means connected with said outriggers and uprights for locking the lower ends of said uprights in varied engagement with said outriggers, means connected with the upper end of one member of said pairs of uprights and said outriggers for locking said upper end of said upright in engagement with said outriggers, a cross bar pivotally connected at one end with one of said uprights and adapted to be supported at its other end upon an opposite upright, and a platform supported upon said cross bar.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereunder.

FRANK B. JOHNSTON. 

